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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A Big Howdy to Author-to-be, Megan Besing!

I
am uber excited to introduce to you, author-to-be, Megan Besing. Although we
usually have established writers here on the Diamond Mine, I thought it would
be fascinating to promote an author who’s still striving to reach that ultimate
writing goal—publishing. And who among
us doesn't love the thrill of discovering a budding new author? Plus, she’s near and dear to my heart because
she’s my very own daughter! Woot, woot!
Please welcome, the beautiful, the talented, Megan Besing!

Hi
Megan! Fancy meeting you here! LOL

Hey! (laughs) Yes, we usually meet on less formal occasions! Like around the dinner
table.

Well,
let’s dive right in. So you are a stay-at-home mom, a babysitter, and a
photographer. What started you on the
road to publication?

Don’t
get mad at me, but I was super late coming into the game of reading. I thought
books were for education and Bible studies, while movies covered everything else.
LOL I know. I know. Thankfully, I am no longer blind to the idea that books are
actually heart-thumping wonderful! During my past three years of devouring
books, I finished a story that didn't place God in a good light, and to be
honest, I didn't like the ending. It wasn't how I wanted it to go at all. So
the next morning, I woke up and started writing. It probably also helped that
earlier in the year, my mother told me she was going to get serious about her
writing career. Otherwise I may have thought my idea to write a book was pure craziness.

Craziness
describes a lot of an author’s life! But let’s get to genres. Authors often have trouble deciding which genre to write.
How did you decide to go with Christian Dystopian?

One
of my favorite genres to read is YA, especially Dystopian. Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched, The Fifth Wave, and The
Selection are some of the popular secular Young Adult Dystopian books right
now. Of course there are tons of others! It’s what I enjoy. I just wanted to
make sure that God was a factor in my stories, since He’s the factor in my
life. And I feel like there should be more Christian Dystopian books, mainly
because I’d like to read more of them. But my second novel isn't Dystopian.
It’s a YA Contemporary. So I suppose I decided to go with YA because it’s what
I enjoy, and it pops into my head the easiest.

Since
many of our readers may not be familiar with Christian Dystopian, tell us a
little about this type of genre.

It
does sound like a frightening term, but it’s not! To me it’s just a made up
world, that often resembles what we live in now, but something in the society
is causing fear or problems. Of course that may not be the exact definition, if
there even is one. And if you put Christian in front of it, then typically that
means the characters are dealing with their faith in one way or another. Or as in
my story, the world is trying to do away with faith.

So
getting to the nuts and bolts, tell us some of your struggles of finishing a
novel.

Sleep.
For some reason I need it? LOL. But my life is like so many of you--busy. I may stay at home with my kids, but I feel
like I’m never there. I babysit along with running my photography business. I
also review books over at Edgy Inspirational Romance, teach the youth at my
church, play the piano for Sunday’s service, and for some odd reason my husband
actually likes to see my face. So I believe the biggest challenge is finding time
to get my hiney seated in my writing chair with the discipline to block out the temptation of
social media, which can be both a blessing and a curse for me.

True.
You can’t write without planting that old gluteus maximus (and minimus) in a chair. (laughs) Let’s go from the bottom-side to the topside. Disappointment. It’s
a big part of being an unpublished writer. Wow, it's a big part of being a
published writer! Tell us some of your
big discouragements and how you've overcome them.

The
road of a writer is…interesting, stressful, oh, you can pretty much add in all
of the seven dwarfs and that should cover the average day. Receiving honest
feedback from your critique partner and rejections from the publishing world
are up there, but I think my lowest point has been when I received what I call,
my first “hate mail.” I have received two unpleasant emails from an individual
who apparently doesn’t want me to be a writer.

At
first, I was a bit stunned, not because I think I’m an awesome writer, but
because someone bothered to take time out of their busy day to demand that
little unknown-me, “retire.” I do blog a tad, and I have two flash fiction
stories published in Splickey Love Magazine, but besides that, most of my work is hidden from the world. Of course
I started questioning my writing and abilities, and panic bubbled in my chest
for a few days. But after praying and seeking advice from others, I wrote this
blog Through Our Weaknesses and Dealing with the Haters. I think it answers this question best.

Let’s
get current. You're working with an agent to tweak your first novel. What would be the ultimate publishing goal
for you?

True,
I am technically working with an agent, but she’s not my agent…at least not yet. J
Currently, I just call her ‘the agent lady,’ as if there’s only one in the
world. Earlier in the year, I received offers from two different publishers for
my first manuscript. I had questions piled in my mind about the contracts—those
very intimidating contracts. I mean I didn’t want to sign away my left arm or
something. So, I contacted an agent who I’d pitched to at the 2013 ACFW
conference to see if she’d be willing to offer advice. I liked her, and thought
the worst that could come from emailing her, would be her ignoring me. But she
surprised me and emailed back. She provided me with a couple options. Choosing
door number three, I decided to take a leap of faith and reject both offers from
the publishers I received, and instead, work with her (the agent lady) as my
content editor. After I finish tweaking, or after I sweat and bleed all over my
manuscript, my ultimate publishing goal would be to have my book printed and on
the shelves of Family Christian, Lifeway, and Barnes and Noble. Where I could
hug it, prance and twirl around the aisles not caring that I’m receiving
awkward stares and finally take a selfie with the cover. And to be able to do that with multiple books would be dark chocolate-fantastic. J Maybe I’ll wake up one morning and find it true. A girl can dream, right?!

Oooh.
That’s sounds fun. I may steal your
idea! Lol Thanks for appearing on the Diamond Mine, Megan. Many blessings, on your
writing journey! She’s just another of God’s fine raw gems
just beginning to gleam.

You
can catch up with Megan on these websites and/or follow the links above for
more information about her.

In
honor of unpublished writers everywhere, we are offering a chance to win a $25
dollar gift card from Barnes and Noble. And here’s all you have to do! Become a member here at diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com, and you are
entered to win! Don’t forget to leave a
comment or a question for Megan.

5 comments:

Megan, I loved your interview. :-) I'm published in romantic suspense, but I'm working to break into the Christian YA market. There definitely aren't enough books in that genre. Good luck in your writing!

Hi Megan! You sound as warm and funny as your mother! I think it's awesome that you and your mom are both writers. My oldest sister just got picked up by Prism Book Group, and I was as thrilled for her as I was when I first got contracted. I know your mother will join you in some big-time celebrating when you get your first contract. It will happen! Just keep writing! I also had an 'agent lady' last year, who finally passed on my story, but then a few months later, it got contracted by Prism, and comes out next month!. So, keep plugging away and listening to advice. You'll soon be celebrating with your mom!